How do I Grow a Mango Tree or Plant?

Mangos are only grown in tropical locations.

Mango trees, which produce the sweet mango fruit, are grown only outdoors in tropical conditions. In the United States, South Florida has the greatest concentration of mango trees. The mango tree is evergreen and some varieties can grow to a width 45 feet. Mangoes can be kept to a more manageable size if they are regularly pruned. Mangoes don't like frost. They prefer dry winters and long, humid, hot summers. The plants do not need rich and fertile soil but must have soil that drains freely. Mangoes can be grown from seedlings or from grafted plants bought commercially.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Mango seed
• Plastic bottle
• Garden shovel
• Garden pruning shears

Instructions

1. Open a dried mango seed casing with a knife. Carefully remove the pulpy, white pip. There may be several in one seed. Plant the pip in a pot of growing compound. Plant the pip vertically. Moisten the growing mix around the seed, but do not soak the soil. Cut a plastic bottle in half. Place the bottom half over the planted seed to keep in moisture and heat.

2. Place the pot in shaded location. Leave it there to allow the pip to germinate. Check daily to ensure that the soil remains moist. Add water if necessary. Cut off all but the smallest stalk when the seed has germinated. The smallest stalks are reputed to grow into trees that produce the best fruit.

3. Plant the sapling in light soil to a depth that will accommodate the roots without bending them. Plant the saplings at any age once they have begun to produce leaves. Saplings that have grown to a height of 1 or 2 feet are stronger than young shoots. Plant at the beginning of summer so that the plant grows in hot, humid conditions. Mix equal parts cow manure and soil to provide initial nutrients for the plant. Cover the roots with this mixture.

4. Create a raised ring of soil with a diameter of 4 feet around the base of the sapling. This is known as a ring drain and will retain irrigation or rain water, and ensures that the water goes directly to the roots of the plant.

5. Keep the mango tree to a manageable size. Prune off multiple stems so the plant grows from one main stem. Cut the tip off the leading stem when it has reached the desired height to ensure that new stems grow out from the plant. Prune new stems as desired to keep the tree to the preferred shape and size. Check for damaged stems. Cut them from the tree as they are discovered.

Tips & Warnings

• Reduce the risk of leaf fungus and fruit-spotting by spreading potash around the base of the tree during late winter.

• Always harvest fruit as soon as it becomes ripe. Remove fallen fruit immediately to aviod attracting pests.

References

• Tropical Permaculture: Growing Mangoes
• Virtual Herbarium: The Mango
• ABC Australia: Growing Mangoes
• Gardening Tips: Growing A Mango Tree